So, you decided or were bestowed the honor of becoming commissioner of your fantasy football league? As a commissioner of a league for nearly two decades, I can tell you it is more than just “selecting a draft day” or a venue for the event. The laundry list of duties goes much further. It is a huge responsibility but it should not be stressful or a burden to you. Hopefully this article assists you with a few pointers on how to lighten the hectic-ness.

When organizing a league, there are a few things to consider. A league usually consists of 10 to 12 people. So when you contact these people for an invitation to your league you should consider the following: folks you know who will be committed to the league, people who will be able to meet their financial obligations and people who can clear their schedule to attend the draft. If these requirements are met, your league will run smoothly and will have longevity.

When I first took on the role of commissioner, the best advice I received was to not run things like a dictatorship. Involve everyone when it is time to make a decision that affects the entire league. One way to avoid conflict in leagues is to eliminate a problem before it occurs. Always have the rules, scoring system and price to play prior to draft day. That way, everyone knows exactly what they are getting into before the season starts.

One of the most controversial things that a league faces each year is trades. When one team owner offers another owner a trade, it affects everyone in the league. The biggest misconception on trades is that there must be a winner and a loser in the deal. This could not be further from the truth. If a deal is going to help or meet both parties’ needs and benefits both of them, then it is an even trade. As a commissioner you will hear all about how a lopsided trade is going to derail the season. Eliminate that scenario before it happens. Have all trades voted on by the league; a commissioner should never just have the power to veto a deal.

Well folks, I hope this helped. Next time I will help out the newcomers with suggestions on how to enter a draft with confidence.